However it’s very difficult to form a mis-perception of the weight differences among different brands and sensor sizes once you’ve tried them, and as has been said already, a lot of enthusiasts (in what is a grey and ageing population) are willing to give m4/3 a try. Such people are influential on their less enthusiastic friends, of course. I know of 12 M1ii sales in the past 18 months in our camera club of 190 people, and there may be more.

No, my main criticism of Grumpy Old Git Hogan’s article is that he’s done no research on anything relevant - for example, he’s done nothing on camera sales among the manufacturers, and selectively quotes vague, ballpark figures that (strangely enough) support his argument. These data are indeed hard to find, but they are out there in the manufacturers’ financial statements, but he couldn’t be bothered to dig them out (neither can I, but I’m not pretending to be an expert). What’s actually happening to Oly/Sony/Fuji etc CSC sales in the past 12 months?

BTW the Sony RX100 series do indeed produce very usable 20mp images in low light and are marketed heavily on that, but anyone who’s used one and who likes shooting in contrasty light knows that their dynamic range in real life usage is pretty woeful compared to even the most basic 16mp m4/3 sensors. Another triumph for marketing over reality, of course: once your highlights have gone they’ve gone.

BTW the Sony RX100 series do indeed produce very usable 20mp images in low light and are marketed heavily on that, but anyone who’s used one and who likes shooting in contrasty light knows that their dynamic range in real life usage is pretty woeful compared to even the most basic 16mp m4/3 sensors. Another triumph for marketing over reality, of course: once your highlights have gone they’ve gone.

My biggest gripe about the RX100 wasn't its IQ, but its handling. Hated it. If they could find a designer who is a *real* photographer, I'm sure they could make it appeal to a much broader audience. As it is, it's almost impossible to use except in full auto mode.

My biggest gripe about the RX100 wasn't its IQ, but its handling. Hated it. If they could find a designer who is a *real* photographer, I'm sure they could make it appeal to a much broader audience. As it is, it's almost impossible to use except in full auto mode.

One would be forgiven for thinking that all the designers with an understanding of photography, or better still being practitioners, changed occupations when digital came into being.

Watched the Time Machine programme on Horizon last night. If I could travel to the past Digital Cameras would instantly disappear from the present.

My biggest gripe about the RX100 wasn't its IQ, but its handling. Hated it. If they could find a designer who is a *real* photographer, I'm sure they could make it appeal to a much broader audience. As it is, it's almost impossible to use except in full auto mode.

The RX100 mk1 had a major problem of 'self starting'. The camera would switch on spontaneously and the lens extend. Unless the user noticed, it would then run the battery flat. This would happen repeatedly. Sony initially said that it couldn't happen, then said it was the users fault. When someone posted a Youtube video of it happening they sunk into a sullen sulk and ignored further reports. There's a long thread about it on a Sony forum.

For the above appalling customer service, I'd never buy a Sony product!

??? US$2000 is the consumer entry point ???
Nope, not even close. I've never spent and probably never will spend that kind of money on a body and I consider myself a keen amateur not a general "consumer".

Nobody pays $2000 for an E-M1 Mark II; $1600 or less is the market rate.

Nobody pays $2000 for an E-M1 Mark II; $1600 or less is the market rate.

Ian

I can’t speak authoritatively for the US prices, Ian, but to be fair to old Hogey the M1ii was around £1850 on the street in the U.K. from mid-2017 until the beginning of 2018. That must equate to around $2000 and, allowing for his usual gentle twisting of the truth to suit his argument, it’s price probably matched the introductory price of the new Aiii over that period.